London has been battered by 50mph winds that have felled trees and caused travel chaos. Powerful gusts swept across the capital as the Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" weather alert for most of the country.

Consumers are eachset to spend an average of £445 on Christmas this year, with children about toreceive an average £132 worth of presents, according to a survey.

Just under half of
parents (47%) feel pressured to spend more than they can afford, the poll for
MoneySupermarket.com found.

Spending will be
highest among 35 to 54-year-olds at £491 per person, falling to £423 for those
aged 55 and over and £415 for those aged 18 to 34 - with the average of £445 up
1.8% on last year's figure of £437 per person.

But one in five
(19%) expect Christmas buying to take them further into debt, with 15%
expecting their December salary to cover spending.

Of the parents
surveyed, 67% were cautious about spending due to the financial climate and 47%
felt pressure to spend more than they could afford on their children, while a
third (34%) were prepared to spend "whatever it takes" to give their
families a happy Christmas.

MoneySupermarket
financial expert Clare Francis said: "Christmas shopping is a significant
area of expenditure for parents in particular.

"And with only
one pay day left for most people until Christmas, it is important to take steps
now to manage your finances in the run up to the big day - and beyond.

"A recent
survey of MoneySupermarket visitors found only 37% will fund Christmas using
disposable income this year, with an encouraging 34% planning to use their
savings.

"Using a
credit or store card was the next most popular option for one in 10.

"A credit card
offering interest free purchases could be a good option for those looking for
flexibility and an efficient way to spread the cost of Christmas.

"However,
anyone taking up this option must ensure they are able to pay off the debt into
the New Year."

British Retail
Consortium economist Richard Lim said: "Households have been through a
challenging year and two-thirds are very cautious about how much they spend due
to the current financial climate.

"Consumer
confidence remains at historically low levels and people are still worried
about the economy, jobs and their personal finances while coping with a
sustained period of falling real incomes.

"Despite these
ongoing challenges, it's positive to hear that people are intending to put some
of their worries to one side and enjoy the festive season.

"Christmas is
the most important time of the year for the retail sector and a £22 billion
boost will be a significant help in these difficult times."